[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43780-43781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15651]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-22-CF-0010]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Debt 
Settlement, Community and Business Programs; OMB Control No.: 0575-0124

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Housing Service 
(RHS) announces its' intention to request an extension of a currently 
approved information collection and invites comments on this 
information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 20, 2022 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search Field'' box, 
labeled ``Search for Rules, Proposed Rules, Notices or Supporting 
Documents,'' enter the following docket number: (RHS-22-CF-0010). To 
submit or view public comments, click the ``Search'' button, select the 
``Documents'' tab, then select the following document title (Debt 
Settlement, Community and Business Programs) from the ``Search 
Results,'' and select the ``Comment'' button. Before inputting your 
comments, you may also review the ``Commenter's Checklist'' (optional). 
Insert your comments under the ``Comment'' title, click ``Browse'' to 
attach files (if available). Input your email address and select 
``Submit

[[Page 43781]]

Comment.'' Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions 
for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket 
after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's 
``FAQ'' link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MaryPat Daskal, Chief, Branch 1, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, United 
States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-7853. Email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies the following information collection 
that RHS is submitting to OMB as extension to an existing collection 
with Agency adjustment.
    Title: 7 CFR part 1956-C, Debt Settlement--Community and Business 
Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 0575-0124.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2022.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 6.2 hours per response.
    Respondents: Not-for-profit institutions and other businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 97.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 205.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,265.
    Abstract: Rural Development (including the Rural Housing Service 
(RHS), the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), and the Rural 
Utilities Service (RUS), hereinafter referred to as Agency, are the 
credit agencies for agricultural and rural development for the United 
States Department of Agriculture. The Agency offers supervised credit 
to develop, improve, and operate family farms, modest housing, 
essential community facilities, and business and industry across rural 
communities. Rural Development offers loans, grants, and loan 
guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development and 
essential services such as housing; health care; first responder 
services and equipment; and water, electric and communications 
infrastructure.
    The Community Facilities loan program of RHS is authorized by 
Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1926). The purpose of the Community Facilities loan program is 
to make loans to public entities, nonprofit corporations, and Indian 
tribes for the development of essential community facilities for public 
use in rural areas.
    The Business and Industry program is authorized by Section 310 B 7 
(U.S.C. 1932) (Pub. L. 92-419, August 30, 1972) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act to improve, develop, or finance 
business, industry, and employment and improve the economic and 
environmental climate in rural communities. The Business and Industry 
programs eligible for debt settlement under this provision are limited 
to Business and Industry direct loans. Debt Settlement of Economic 
Opportunity Cooperative Loans, Claims Against Third Party Converters, 
Non-program loans, Rural Business Enterprise/Television Demonstration 
grants, Rural Development Loan Fund loans, Intermediary Relending 
Program loans, and Nonprofit National Corporation loans and grants, are 
not authorized. Under independent statutory authority, settlement under 
these programs is handled pursuant to the Federal Claims Collection 
Joint Standards, 4 CFR parts 101 through 105.
    The debt settlement program provides the delinquent client with an 
equitable tool for the compromise, adjustment, cancellation, or charge-
off of a debt owed to the Agency. The term settlement is used for 
convenience in referring to compromise, adjustment, cancellation, or 
charge off actions individually or collectively. If a debt is eligible 
for settlement, the debt settlement authorities are extended to the 
debtor. All debtors are entitled to impartial treatment and uniform 
consideration under this subpart. The information collected is similar 
to that required by a commercial lender in similar circumstances.
    The information collected is similar to that required by a 
commercial lender in similar circumstances. Information will be 
collected by the field offices from borrowers, consultants, lenders, 
and attorneys. Failure to collect information could result in improper 
servicing of these loans.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility.
    (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
    (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All 
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Arlette 
Mussington, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 720-7853. Email: [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Joaquin Altoro,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15651 Filed 7-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P